Thursday, August 20, 2015

Summer soiree' proves its never too early to start planning an elegant Holiday Champagne Party

by Dwight Casimere

NEW YORK--Fans were the tchotchke of choice on a sweltering summers eve at an elegant private East Village townhouse, filled with an exquisite private modern art collection and showcasing The Art of Celebrating The Holidays with Champagne Taittinger.

The stylish interior of the East 12th Street townhouse of Pamela Bell, founder of Prinkshop and co-founder of Kate Spade. The house is renowned for its original crown moldings and other original appointments and her fabulous modern art collection

Paired with the cuisine of Chef Sarah Simmons of Birds and Bubbles and the elegant interior designs of Sam Masters, the champagnes showed exquisitely. Guest Sommelier, Jerusha Frost, of Chef's Club, wearing a stunning red Holiday gown, was on hand to mingle with guests and personally pour the House's world-renowned Champagnes.

Guest Sommelier Jerusha Frost from Chef's Club

Below: Cuisine of Chef Sarah Simmons of Birds and Bubbles

Sharing the Holiday Season with family and friends is a personal passion of the Taittinger family. Pierre-Emmanuel, Vitalie and Clovis Taittinger, the father, daughter and son team, respectively, look forward to it each year.While sampling bites of Brussels Crostini with Champagne Vinaigrette, freshly shucked Oysters, and French Macarons and Chocolate Champagne Truffles, among other delicacies, guests were guided through each unique experience of Holiday entertaining; from an elegant Champagne Party, a sit-down Holiday Dinner with Champagne pairings and, the Grand Finale, a Moroccan-inspired New Year's Eve celebration under a Berber Tent.

An aerial view of the Berber Tent for a Moroccan-themed New Year's Eve CelebrationNew interpretations of holiday menus and decor concepts are the perfect vehicles to experience the effortless elegance of Champagne Taittinger. The last of the family-owned and operated grand marque Champagne houses in France, Taittinger is the second largest vineyard or domaine owner in the region. This gives them ultimate control of quality from vine to bottle. The Champagnes are Chardonnay dominant, which gives them their elegance, delicacy and finesse. Taittinger is widely distributed around the world in 140 countries.

Champagne Taittinger and "The Art of Celebrating the Holidays” a perfect way to discover unique and whimsical pairings of champagne and holiday favorites The Holiday Dinner was re-imagined to feature rich jewel tones instead of the traditional red and green. the four-course meal created by Chef Sarah Simmons of New York's acclaimed Birds and Bubbles restaurant, provided a modern take on elevated classics, giving traditional favorites a fresh twist. For example, Brussels Crostini with Champagne Vinaigrette and Pomegranate, was paired with Taittinger Prestige Rose' NV. The Champagne offset the roasted greens and matched the sweet/ tart, red-fruit flavor of the Pomegranate. Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blanc 2005, is the bench-mark for all 100% Chardonnay Champagne. Brioche-laden and mineral-driven, it is the perfect accompaniment to fine cuisine, or as a stand-alone aperitif. For the New Year's Eve Moroccan Party, it was the perfect partner from the First course of Bitter Greens with Champagne Pickled Walnuts. It carried through the meal to the Moroccan Rubbed Beef Wellington and on to the celebratory Croque en Bouche (translation: "something that crunches in the mouth," the traditional French wedding treat which is a towering cone of choux pastry balls piled high and drizzled with threads of caramel to bind them together. It is often decorated with chocolate, sugared almonds or candied flowers.)Taittinger Nocturne was appropriately named. It's the perfect 'nightcap' and accompaniment to Champagne Chocolate Truffles, or sugary-sweet French Macarons.

The Champagne Party menu, featuring Shrimp Rillette, with House-made Black Pepper Crackers, NY Cheddar Puff Pastry wrapped Castelvetrano with Smoked Almond and Crispy Potato Latke with House Cured Trout and Horseradish Creme Fraiche and Dill provided the perfect opportunities to play around with each of the four Champagnes.

Taittinger Brut La Francaise NV, for example, might make a tasty companion with the Potato Latkes and Trout, also (Below) with the freshly shucked oysters. The creamy richness would offset the briny minerality of the seafood.

Shucking Black Point Oysters by CANESP Global Distribution

There's no end to the flavor combinations and variations that you can create with Champagne Taittinger. Use the menus reflected above as a springboard to come up with on your own ideas. Pick up a few bottles of Champagne Taittinger and start experimenting on your own and come up with a Holiday menu that will thrill and delight your guests. If nothing else, you'll have a great way to say goodbye to summer and an inspiration to look forward to the Holidays ahead!

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Historic Rockefeller Townhouses is setting for U.S. introduction for wines from one of Italy's oldest regions

by Dwight Casimere

NEW YORK--Il Gattopardo restaurant in the historic Rockefeller Townhouses on Millionaire's Row in midtown Manhattan was the setting for a momentous occasion; the New York and U.S. debut of the Wines of Campania. Although a few of the wines are currently available at restaurants and fine wine purveyors, this was the first concerted effort to present the wines as a cohesive entity.
The "A Team" at Il Gattopardo: Gianfranco Sorrentino, Executive Chef Vito Gnazzo, Paula Bolla-Sorrentino

With Master Sommelier Fred Dexheimer conducting a guided tasting of the wines for a select audience of wine media and food and beverage trade, and Executive Chef Vito Gnazzo and his culinary team preparing a menu that paired nine of the wines with regionally inspired cuisine, this was an occasion that will live long in memory.

Each of the winemakers were on hand to personally explain their wines and mingle with the guests.
First, a word about Campania. Located along the South Western Coast of Italy, Campania is located in the "shin" of the boot, anchored by Naples, which is its capital. The name "Campania" derives from the Latin phrase "Campania Felix," which roughly translates to "the fertile land." No name could be more appropriate. From the time of the ancient Greeks, in the 8th century BC to the 6th century BC. when the Etruscans absorbed the land into the Roman Empire, the region was known for cultivating what became the "cult" wine of the era, Falemum, a probable blend of Aglianico and Falanghina grapes, indigenous varietals that are grown in Campania to this day.

Campania is uniquely situated with a wall of mountains leading to a fertile valley with mineral-rich volcanic soil, that cascades to the Tyrrhenian Sea.

Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD, covering Pompeii and Herculaneum with volcanic ash. Although an entire civilization and culture was nearly wiped out by the catastrophe, it later became a blessing in disguise. The region became primarily Phylloxera free because the deadly mites that nearly destroyed all of the viable grape crops in Western Europe didn't like ash, and therefor, bypassed the region.

Nine of Campania's most exciting wine producers descended upon New York in the largest showcase of wines from the region ever. Among those present was Ilaria Petitto of Donnachiara of Avellino, specialists in Falanghina and Taurus wines, Michele Di Gregorio of Tenuta Cavalier Pepe, known for producing a local cultivar named Ravece as well as Coda di Volpe grapes, and Ferrante di Somma, a direct descendant of the di Marzo family, which founded Cantine Di Marzo in 1647. Di Marzo is one of Italy's oldest wineries and is the first producer of Greco di Tufo wine. The winery presented Anni Venti (20th Anniversary) Greco di Tufo Spumante DOCG NV, which is 100% Greco, which served as the afternoon's aperitif, and was also paired with the Stuzzichini (appetizer) of Mini mozzarella in carrozza con salsetta d'acciughe, Assaggini di torta "pasqualina." The wines of these producers are currently available in the U.S. and enjoying a prominent place on the wine lists of great Italian restaurants and on the shelves of the finest wine merchants.

The fabulous wine pairing cuisine of Il Gattopardo whose chefs are Italian born and trained: Below-Primo-Paccherialla pasta with "Genovese" sauce, a rich, onion based pasta sauce native to the region of Campania and introduced to the city of Naples from Genoa, to the North, during the Renaissance, an important part of the region's culinary history. The sauce is unknown beyond Campania

The cuisine, prepared by the sterling culinary staff of Il Gattopardo, went perfectly with the wines, particularly the first courses and the fruit-forward white wines, which also reflected the mineral-rich soil. The white wines were all fermented and aged in stainless steel tanks.

More Pasta Genovese

The main course-Secondo-Capretto al forno con padellata di Friarielle e patate (fire roasted Goat filets with herb and garlic roasted potatoes. Tastes like grilled baby lamb chops. The broccoli rabe on the side was awesome and showed off the red wines in spectacular fashion. Mmmmm!

The red wines reflected expert vinification and aging techniques, which emphasizes fermentation in stainless steel to bring out the luscious fruit flavors followed by the use of large oak barrels, called Botti, which give the wines roundness and character

About Me

Dwight The Wine Doctor is a Certified Sommelier. He has covered VinItaly in Verona,Italy for the past several years, and was a judge for both the 2012 and 2013 International Wine Competition in Verona. He has also covered the London Wine Fair, Aspen Wine and Food Classic, New Orleans Wine Experience,South Beach and New York Wine and Food Festivals, Sonoma Wine Country Weekend and the Landmark Tutorial in Barossa Valley near Adelaide, Australia. His travels have also taken him to Marrakech, Morocco and Galway, Ireland. In addition to being a wine writer, he is a connoisseur and reviewer of the fine arts, including reviews of the New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Metropolitan Opera and Lyric Opera in Chicago.His wide-ranging reviews also include Jazz At Lincoln Center, American Ballet Theatre, Alvin Ailey Dance and Art Basel Miami.